ADELAIDE.- The 29th South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival has come to a close after a month-long celebration of visual art across the state, with the 2026 SALA Awards announced at The Meeting Hall tonight. The awards recognised outstanding artists from across South Australia, spanning emerging practitioners through to established artists, and celebrating their contribution to the state’s vibrant visual arts sector. With more than 11,000 artists participating in over 700 exhibitions across Adelaide and regional South Australia, this year’s festival once again brought art and audiences together in an extraordinary range of spaces, highlighting SALA’s place as one of the most inclusive celebrations of visual art in the country!

SALA Festival CEO Bridget Alfred said “The 2026 SALA Festival has been a spectacular celebration of South Australian artists, audiences, and community. The quality and breadth of work across the state has been a joy to experience, and the strength of community activations and participation has reminded us, again and again, of the power of art to bring people together to exchange, connect, and celebrate.

As we come to our final awards, we find ourselves wishing we had more to give, and feeling deeply grateful for the artists, venues, audiences, and contributing partners who make this Festival such a success.

We are already making plans, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027 for SALA’s 30th Festival year!”

This year’s SALA Awards celebrated the remarkable talent and achievements of artists from across South Australia:-

Stephen Soeffky won the City of Adelaide Award for his exhibition ‘Working Together’. This award recognises an artist whose work explores or celebrates the experience of the City of Adelaide. Stephen was awarded $5,000 and will participate in a public program with the City of Adelaide in 2027.

Stephen Soeffky won a second award, The City Rural Emerging Artist Award and a cash prize of $2,500. This award is for artists in the early stages of their career, with under five years of professional experience.





The Advertiser’s Contemporary Art Award is for the most outstanding work in any medium in SALA 2026. Coco Siu won a cash prize of $5,000 for her sculpture work ‘Ways of Staying’ in this year’s festival.

Inspiring SA Science in Art Award is for artists whose work explores/engages with science, technology, engineering, maths or medicine (STEMM), or STEMM-related issues with a prize of $2,500. Chris Boha won for his work ‘Remains of a Future Past’.

The City of Unley Active Aging Award is for artists over the age of 60 to celebrate the City of Unley’s involvement with SALA and its commitment to promoting and supporting an active ageing approach. This year’s award went to Anthea Jones for her work in the exhibition ‘Living The Dream Studio’. Anthea won a cash prize of $2,000 and an exhibition space in Unley for SALA in 2026.

The Don Dunstan Foundation Award is for artists whose work honours the legacy of Don Dunstan and/or engages with the values of the Don Dunstan Foundation. The objectives and priorities of the Don Dunstan Foundation include homelessness; climate justice, Aboriginal empowerment and reconciliation; democracy; and Don Dunstan’s legacy. Bianca Joanna Buliga won the award and cash prize of $2,000 for her exhibition ‘Healing Out Loud’.

Whittles Body Corporate Management Services Venue Awards are for venues that exceed expectations in supporting artists exhibiting during SALA Festival 2026. The regional winner was the Mallee Spirit Distillery and South Henley Newsagency and Post Office won the metropolitan non-arts venue. Each won a $2,000 cash prize.

The Guildhouse Artist’s Choice Award is for artists of any medium, age, or skill level to vote for the SALA Award finalist whose artwork impressed them the most in the 2026 SALA Festival. This year’s recipient was Zoe Crichton. Zoe won a 12-month Guildhouse Accredited Membership and a cash prize of $1,500.

The new Carclew Early-Career Artist Studio Award recognises an early career visual artist exhibiting in the SALA Festival. The award provides financial support and a studio residency, investing in the conditions required for sustained contemporary practice. Artist Chin Ton Naomi Tang received $1,000 cash and a studio residency at Carclew in early 2027.

SALA In Lights Award aims to illuminate the work of a South Australian visual artist taking part in the 2026 SALA Festival. Sally Parnis won the award and will be the subject of an after-dark projection on a prominent wall in the CBD during the 2027 SALA Festival with the support of Novatech (valued at $10,000). Sally will also receive $2,500 prizemoney from Foodland and a further $2,500 loaded onto a Foodland in-store credit card and her work digitally displayed in Foodland stores across SA during SALA 2027.

The SALA SOLO Photography Opportunity did a call for applications late last year, and the recipient Bryce Kraehenbuehl was able to utilise this prize for an outcome in this year’s Festival. Bryce presented his solo exhibition Red Earth at Praxis Artspace with the support of sponsors Atkins Lab, the Centre for Creative Photography and Praxis Artspace.

It was also previously announced that Robe textile artist Kristi Biezaite was selected as the recipient of the Country Arts SA Breaking Ground Award, with an exhibition outcome at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery during SALA Festival 2027.

Jane Bowden was announced as the featured artist for the 2027 SALA Festival and the focus of the 2027 Australian Living Artists Publication, which will be penned and supported by Rebecca Evans; Dr Eleen Deprez; Ingrid Goetz, Vernon-Roberts and Penelope Curtin, with Rachel Harris leading the graphic design.

Jane Bowden is an established South Australian artist who has helped shape contemporary jewellery for more than 35 years. Jane’s practice is grounded in material exploration, conceptual inquiry and community engagement. Her work investigates how traditional craft and textile techniques can be adapted to metalsmithing. Through this approach, Jane opens jewellery as a space for experimentation, connection and meaning. As co-founder of Zu design, jewellery + objects in Adelaide, she has supported independent makers and strengthened South Australia’s creative landscape.